Ebay Hunter practise set - not what it seems

beckitybek · Post by **beckitybek** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 5:49 am

Hi guys - watch out for this one:

Uilleann Pipes practice set by Peter Hunter
A beautiful narrow bore chanter in "D " very special
Item number: 7308833857

I'm fairly certain that this isn't a Peter Hunter chanter but was in fact made by his apprentice of some time Mark Dixon, who i've just spoken to about it.

Hans-Joerg · Post by **Hans-Joerg** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 6:41 am

Thanks for the warning, Becky. I think it ridiculous anyway that people try to sell us a "Katze im Sack". This (in German) very striking phrase verbally means a cat in a bag but in this context it means an item without a picture.
Best,
Hans

Jay-eye · Post by **Jay-eye** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:14 am

Hans-Joerg wrote: I think it ridiculous anyway that people try to sell us a "Katze im Sack". This (in German) very striking phrase verbally means a cat in a bag but in this context it means an item without a picture.
Best,
Hans

ebay Seller wrote:

I'm having trouble with camera so Email me if you are interested and I'll send pics

So the seller sent them to me via email but couldn't post them on ebay. Huh? :roll:

elbogo · Post by **elbogo** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 9:13 am

Good thing for this forum and the wealth of experts we have, with regard to UPs, the chance of getting ripped off is greatly reduced.

el oscuro · Post by **el oscuro** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 2:27 pm

beckitybek wrote:Hi guys - watch out for this one:

Uilleann Pipes practice set by Peter Hunter
A beautiful narrow bore chanter in "D " very special
Item number: 7308833857

I'm fairly certain that this isn't a Peter Hunter chanter but was in fact made by his apprentice of some time Mark Dixon, who i've just spoken to about it.

Has anyone contacted the vendor to seek verification of the provenance of the set. It's all very well to make 'fairly certain' statements but a tad unfair on the vendor who, if he doessn't read this BBS, has no right of reply.

It just so happens that I have met the chap who's selling the practice set. I'll come from the opposite end of the 'fairly certain' spectrum... I'm fairly certain that he's a genuine guy who is selling his pipes because he has a need to fund a change in career as he has been made redundant from his job at a local college. I am fairly certain that he would not deliberately deceive.

I bought a half set from him, they were exactly as described. He spent a lot of time with me explaining some of the basics of piping. The set of pipes' ease of play and transitions to the top octave were verified by my piping teacher. I've been told by my teacher that I have, in fact, got a very good 1/2 set at a great price.

As always, caveat emptor but lets be sure of the facts before asserting that the gear on sale is dodgy.

Jim McGuire · Post by **Jim McGuire** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:06 pm

When in doubt, always contact the Seller directly for photos, etc. Even if it not a Hunter, it may be fine. If the other fellow worked out of the same shop, confusion could rein. When someone is spending good money, though, it is fair to expect to get what you are paying for.

sturob · Post by **sturob** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:25 pm

Hans-Joerg wrote:. . ."Katze im Sack". This (in German) very striking phrase verbally means a cat in a bag but in this context it means an item without a picture.

We have the same expression in English, but we say a "pig in a poke." »Schwein im Sack« if you will.

Caveat emptor!

Stuart

beckitybek · Post by **beckitybek** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:27 am

Ok, just to confirm I am DEFINATELY sure that the chanter with this practise set is a Mark Dixon chanter and not a Peter Hunter one as advertised.
I've just had Mark here with me looking at e-mailed pictures of the set and he can confirm that the set was made in the late 1990's by himself for Andy Rushworth of Bradford who collected the chanter in person from him. Made from untreated boxwood with horn mounts with a very distinctive 'mend' on the E hole that was originally positioned in the wrong place.

This is in no way a bad chanter - its just not as advertised!

beckitybek · Post by **beckitybek** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:27 am

Just so you can see the other side to this, I've had contact from the seller and believe him to be genuine in this:

Becky

PS...

I would be happy to change the description of this auction to clear up this confusion but iv e tried and ebay wont let me . Im not trying to decive people. I will email pics to any person genuinely interested in bidding on this chanter , wether it was made by Dixon or Hunter. You have my permission to quote me on the forum if you wish.

Jim McGuire · Post by **Jim McGuire** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:56 am

The seller can add text to the description in an auction listing but not edit what is there. 12 hours to go and no changes at all are possible.

Jay-eye · Post by **Jay-eye** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:27 pm

Plus he could add stuff as part of a 'question & answer' section at the bottom.

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